School food programs in NL getting financial boost to buy infrastructure needs

Food First NL CEO Josh Smee says the feds put aside $20M last year to help non profit school food programs buy physical infrastructure, the things they need to deliver their programming and a coalition of four community organizations across Atlantic Canada were successful in getting $1,000,000.

A coalition of community groups in Atlantic Canada has secured $1M for school food initiatives, including two in this province. The School Lunch Association is getting more than $111K and the Kids Eat Smart Foundation will receive $25K. The coalition was led by Food First NL and CEO  Josh Smee says the feds put aside $20M last year to help non profit school food programs buy physical infrastructure, the things they need to deliver their programming and a coalition of four community organizations across Atlantic Canada were successful in getting $1,000,000. Smee says this infrastructure can cover the obvious like schools without kitchens, but some need upgrades or equipment to be used off site like refrigerators or warmers. . 

He says right now physical infrastructure is very important because we are headed for a massive expansion of school food. The National School Food Program and every kid from pre-K to grade 9 will have access to a “pay what you can” meal and the new provincial government has committed to extend that to grade 12. 

The funding itself is from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, under the School Food Infrastructure Fund. A one-time fund that was made available for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.